faith1

Let us ask God to fill us with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of Light.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if we possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

As such, make it our ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind our own business and to work with our hands so that our daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that we may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which we shine like stars in the universe.

Whatever we do, work at it with all our heart as working for the Lord, not for men. It is the Lord Christ we are serving.

Let our conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer everyone.

As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave us. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as member of one body we were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God. And whatever we do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

And more importantly, be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus.

Do not put out the Spirit's fire. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

Never be lovers of yourselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to our parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Therefore be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if we do these things, we will never fall and we will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Always remember that it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

(Derived from verses in the New Testaments: 2 Corinthians 10:18; Philippians 2:14 - 16; Colossians 1: 9 - 12, 3: 12 -15, 3:23 - 24 & 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - 12; 5:16 - 22; 2 Timothy 3:2 - 5; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 1:3 - 11)